Get Mabel Moolah with Back to School Savings!

I've been a fan of Mabel's Label's since Roo first started going to preschool. I signed up to be one of their Buzzmamas and spread the word because I really truly love their labels and use them every day, for the kids AND for myself:

Jasper is about to start full-day preschool on Monday, so I've been labelling his stuff in preparation for the big event. It's a lot easier than old-fashioned sew-in labels and looks way better than the traditional scrawled permanent marker, at least with my crummy handwriting! If you're looking for a place to start, I'd highly recommend the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo from Mabel’s Labels since it's only available for a limited time. It includes everything you need to label your kiddo's school gear: 50 Tag Mates (I prefer these to iron-ons, they just stick on the washing instruction tags and stay on for years) , 40 Skinny-Minis (I use these for everything from toothbrush handles to flash drives), 16 Shoe Labels (Jasper's just went right over Roo's in her old size 11 K-Swiss sneakers…) and 2 Teeny Tags (super cute as zipper pulls on backpacks), all personalized with name, colors and cute icons.




Parents of kids with food or medication allergies should check out the Allergy Alerts, bright red labels that list all your child's pertinent information. They're waterproof and durable, perfect on food containers or first aid kits.




Now through September 6th, you can earn $25 in Mabel Moolah for every $85 purchased* online at Mabel’s Labels.

*before taxes and shipping, after discounts



In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I have received complimentary products in the past as a Mabel’s Labels Buzzmama, which is an unpaid gig. I was not asked to write this post and I did not receive any monetary compensation. I may receive payment from them should you click on any of the links I've posted and make a purchase, as I am a member of their affiliate program, however all opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.

The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book (Giveaway)

***WINNER PICKED 12/13 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, SmilingGreenMom!!!***



My kids haven't manifested any allergies yet, thankfully, but Roo has several friends who have significant dietary restrictions. I know it's a constant struggle to find foods that my own kids will eat so I can't really imagine how difficult it would be to cook for kids without nuts, eggs, or dairy. When Kelly Rudnicki's second son was diagnosed with multiple severe food allergies, as well as asthma, she began her quest to learn as much as she could about allergen-free cooking. Her blog, The Food Allergy Mama, features tons of recipes and helpful information for other parents to learn from.

Kelly recently published The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book, a compendium of recipes that are completely nut, egg, and dairy-free. These recipes are as tasty as their allergen-laden counterparts but they make it easier for kids with allergies to share in the holiday feasting. There are familiar gifting items like pumpkin bread and gingerbread kid cookies as well as more elegant fare such as a dairy-free cheesecake. (It should be noted that these recipes are not gluten-free.) One thing she stresses is using quality ingredients: "I'm a real stickler about the vanilla I use. There are some ingredients you can't go cheap; this is one of them. Nielsen-Massey's is top of the line. Get the good stuff, and you'll see a real difference in your baking results," Rudnicki said.

Impress your family with these donuts on a chilly morning!

Apple House Cinnamon Doughnuts
Courtesy of The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book
Yield: 12 doughnuts and 12 holes


Doughnuts
Vegetable oil, for frying
¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla extract
¾ cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons Fleischman's Unsalted Margarine, melted
4 ½ - 4 ¾ cups Gold Medal Unbleached All-purpose flour
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup soy or rice milk


Cinnamon sugar, for rolling
½ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon


In a large, heavy pot, heat 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil until a candy thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375ºF.


Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the applesauce, vanilla, and ¾ cups flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt with a wire whisk. Add the flour mixture and the soy milk alternately to the applesauce - margarine mixture. Add more flour, if needed, to make a smooth and not-too-sticky dough.


Transfer the dough to a lightly floured board. Knead for about 1 minute, and roll out to a ½-inch-thick circle. Dip a doughnut cutter into flour, and cut into the dough. Remove the trimmings and reroll, repeating the process.


Slide a few doughnuts into the hot oil, being careful not to crowd the pot. Fry until the doughnuts rise to the surface, about 2 minutes, and turn over with metal tongs to fry the other side. Doughnuts should be golden brown on both sides. Lift out the doughnuts with metal tongs and drain on paper towels.


Mix together the ½ cup sugar and the 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Place the cinnamon - sugar mixture in a brown paper lunch bag. Place the warm doughnuts, one at a time, in the brown bag, and shake to coat. Shake off excess sugar, and place on a serving platter. Repeat with remaining doughnuts.


Note: If you don't have a doughnut cutter, use a 3-inch biscuit cutter instead. To make the doughnut holes, use an empty, sterilized round medicine bottle without the cap. Poke the hole in the middle of the circle, and down the hole will pop. This is a time-tested trick Rudnicki learned from her mom.

To enter and win a copy of The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book and a 2 oz. bottle of Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla, please comment on this post with your favorite holiday baked goods or food allergy story.


Entries will be accepted through December 8th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, follow Food Allergy Mama on Twitter, fan me on Facebook, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***




Disclosure: I received a copy of The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book and a teeny adorable bottle of Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla to facilitate this review.

HomeFree Allergy-Safe Treats

HomeFree makes treats that are peanut, dairy, egg and tree nut-free in a dedicated bakery that ensures safety from cross-contamination. "Allergy-free" is not usually a big selling point on snacks for my kids. We're lucky enough to have escaped any life-threatening allergies so we're not required to purchase them but it is nice to have something on hand to serve the kids' friends who do have food allergies. HomeFree treats are not only safe but they are delicious, too. We tried two varieties and both were gone almost instantaneously!

The Organic Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies are tiny and crunchy, reminiscent of store brands like Chips Ahoy. They are incredibly addictive!



The Organic Oatmeal Cookies come six to a box. They're more of a home-style cookie, very dense and soft and chewy. Each cookie packs a whopping 13g of whole grain and 2g of protein with a very low sodium and glycemic profile, too, so you can feel pretty good about serving them as an afterschool snack.



HomeFree also offers a variety of other allergy-free products, including Coffee Cakes, Baking Ingredients, and an Allergen-free Baking Cookbook.

Disclosure: We received samples of the cookies shown above in order to review them.

Bless You, Little Dust Mites

I have a problem: I can't bear to throw away stuffed animals, no matter how dingy, unloved or frightening they may be. Somehow my two kids have amassed a ton of the little critters and they are split between two bedrooms in an egalitarian jumble of cuddly dust. Some of them are actually washable but most of them read "surface wash only- wipe with damp sponge" which is not a particularly effective solution, especially if anyone in your home has allergies. And you're a mediocre housekeeper. And you have six cats. Aaah-chooo!!!



Clorox Anywhere Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray can actually change the structure of allergen proteins, neutralizing up to 90% of common indoor allergens, including dust mites and cat/dog dander. Clorox Anywhere Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray is safe and gentle enough to use around kids and pets. Its formula is fragrance-free and dye-free and may be used on upholstery and fabrics throughout the house, although it's not recommended on fabrics that are prone to water spotting such as leather, wool, silk and mohair.

I tried Clorox Anywhere Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray throughout the house and it really did seem to freshen the place up. Now, if it could do something about those dust bunnies…

Protect Your Sleep giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 11/5 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, MELISSA NEECE!!!***

I've always had allergies. Growing up on the damp windward side of Oahu, I assumed having a stuffy nose was just a part of life. When I adopted my first pet in college, a cat named Piewackett, I knew I would be battling allergies at least for her lifetime. I religiously popped antihistamines and kept an inhaler on hand for particularly nasty flare-ups.

Piewackett's old and even greyer nowadays and we live in dusty, dry Wichita, Kansas. I have two kids and, uh, seven cats, now so I'm a bit more concerned than I used to be with keeping allergens at bay. I wash the clothes and sheets frequently, vacuum as often as possible (not enough, admittedly!), and hope for the best. So far, neither of my kids seems to have allergies but their dad has developed them, probably a result of wood carving.

Roo's potty training experience had motivated me to get waterproof mattress pads for all the beds in the house quite a while ago, but when I read about CleanRest, a line of bedding products designed to protect you from allergens in your sleep, I was intrigued. What makes CleanRest products so different is that instead of being merely waterproof, they are allergen-proof. Instead of laying on top of a mattress, the CleanRest encasements actually zip around the whole thing, providing an all-encompassing barrier to moisture AND allergens. But unlike the rubber sheets of my youth that crinkled uncomfortably and made noise, CleanRest encasements are made of a high-tech breathable fabric called Micron One. Its weave is so small, no liquids or allergens can penetrate it.



Since both kids are staying in our room right now (Jasper in his moses basket and Roo snugly between us, ugh) we tried a CleanRest mattress encasement on our king sized bed. We usually have three cats in bed with us at night, too, so there was quite a panel of product testers. The CleanRest encasement was way easier to put on our huge pillow-topped mattress than I expected. I was initially apprehensive because it was crunchy and noisy right out of the package but it became much softer after washing and drying it before use, as recommended.




We've the mattress and pillow encasements for about a month now and I have to say that I am definitely breathing easier. Bob is, too, although it hasn't miraculously stopped his snoring, unfortunately. I also like the security of knowing that baby spit up or other nastiness from middle of the night nursing won't affect the mattress or pillows. I'm going to need a set for Roo's bunk bed once she moves back into her room, hopefully as soon as Jasper is big enough to move into his crib, which there is also a CleanRest encasement for…




If you'd like to try CleanRest out for yourself, I have one twin mattress encasement + one standard pillow encasement (total suggested retail value of set is $99.98) to give away to a lucky reader. To enter and win this set, visit CleanRest's site and comment on this post with the answer to the following question: How long does it take the average mattress to double its weight from dust mite infestation?*

Entries will be accepted through October 26th. US/Canada readers only, please. Make sure you leave an email address or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


*Hint: go to the Our Technology section of CleanRest's website and look for the dust mite.